Channel indicating means for T.V. tuners

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this invention is to get an adequate and easy broadcast channel selection. When T.V. set is prepared to operate, this channel indicating means for the T.V. tuners show at first the numbers of channel which are available for receiving a picture where the T.V. set is located, and also give a light on the selected numbers of channel.

United States Patent [191 1111 3,925,778

Wada et al. Dec. 9, 1975 [54] CHANNEL INDICATING MEANS FOR T.V. [56] References Cited TUNERS UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventors: Yasuhiro Wada, j Katsuhiko 2,816,259 12/1957 Papitto l78/DIG. 15

Okabe, Tokorozawa, both of Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Koparu, Tokyo,

Japan Primary Examiner-Harold I. Pitts Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman, Darby &

Cushman [22] Filed: Aug. 29, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 392,774 [57 ABSTRACT The purpose of this invention is to get an adequate [30] Foreign Application Priority Data and easy broadcast channel selection. When T.V. set Aug. 31, 1972 Japan 47-87246 is Prepared to Operate, this channel indicating means for the T.V. tuners show at first the numbers of chan- 52 US. Cl. 340/378 R; 340/381 hel Which are available for receiying a picture Where 51 I111. cl. G08B 5/36 the TV Set is located, and also give a light on the [58] Field of Search 334/86; 325/455; lected numbers of Channel- 178/DIG. 15; 340/378 R, 381; 200/310 I 4 Claims 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,925,778

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Omx On X Ex n x CHANNEL INDICATING,MEANS FOR T.V. TUNERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention is concerned with channel indicating means for T.V. tuners and, more particularly, indicate the available broadcasting channels and shows the numbers of selected channels.

2. Description of the prior art Due to the plurality of channels, in case of push-button type tuners for all-channels (Max. 82 channels), it is not desirable to provide one button for each channel. Instead it is preferable to select the required channel from a series of push buttons, one series for two-figure numbers of tens digits and a second series for one-figure numbers. It is further preferable to indicate the number of channels available for broadcasting where the T.V. set is placed. However, it is impossible to find such indicating means on present T.V. sets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object to give at first the indication when switched on, if for instance the available broadcasting channels are lst, 4th, 8th, 12th, 37th, 64rd and 80th, that the available broadcasting channels stay in some numbers of below lth and some number of th, 30th, 60th and 80th by switching on the twofigure 0, l, 3, 6 and 8 lamps. Then second, when the two-figure number 0 button is pushed, the one-figure number 1, 4 and 8 lamps are turned on indicating the available broadcasting channels, and when the two-figure number 1 button is pushed (this time the previous setting of the two-figure 0 button is cleared), the one-figure number 2 lamp is designated to light showing the available broadcasting channel is number. That is, a primary object of this invention is to provide the said indication means for T.V. tuners to know the available broadcasting channels at the place where T.V set is placed.

Another object of this invention is to provide the channel indicating means for T.V. tuners being easily adjustable at the actual place where T.V. set is positioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a front view illustrating 2 series of push buttons, one is for indicating two-figure numbers, the other for one-figure numbers, relating to T.V. tuners;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged side view illustrating a series of push buttons for the indication of two-figure numbers;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view illustrating a series of push buttons for the indication of one-figure numbers; and

FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram for energizing indication lamps.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT At first, FIG. I shows the operation board for channel selection which consists of 2 series of plastic pushbuttons disposed at the front surface of a T.V. set (not shown). A series of push-buttons X0-X8 in the left side column is used for double digit ortwo-figure numbers in conjunction with push-buttons 10-19 in the right side column which alone are used for units digits one-figure numbers. The letter R on the left side is a reset button to release the pushed one-figure and two-figure buttons and return them to their normal position (nonpushed position). Then, in case the buttons X0 and I3 are pushed, the 3rd channel is selected as an available broadcasting'channel, and if buttons X1 and I4 are pushed, it is said that the 14th channel is selected. The actual selection mechanism moved by this pushing is not shown herein, since it does not have a direct relation to this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view illustrating the inner portions of the two-figure push buttons. Indicating members, such as lamps XBO XB8, are built in each button XAO XA8, respectively. Interlocking rods XCO XC8 form the rear portion of buttons XAO XA8, respectively. Mounted on these interlocking rods are first and second signal setting elements comprising ten pairs of electric conductive pieces (X0 I0 X0 I0 (X8 I8 X8 I8 for each indivisual pair being mounted so as to beable to move vertically, up and down. When the electric conductive piece moves upwards, it is said that the set position which enables to light a lamp is created. Further, brushes (XP0 XP0 (XP8 XP8 and (IPO IP0 (IP8 -IP8 are each placed opposite each electric conductive piece. The brushes are connected together in blocks (XPO XP0 (XPS XP8 and (IP0 IP0 (IP8 IP8 by connection lines XPO XP8 and ll 1P respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a series of one-figure buttons. In the inner part of the operation section [A0 IA9 of each button, the lamps IBO IB9 are built and on interlocking rods 1C0 IC9 connected to the operation section of each button, are mounted pins [D0 ID9. Further, two switches IEO, IFO IE9, IF9 areplaced opposite said pins.

FIG. 4 shows circuits for lighting lamps XBO X89 and IE0 IE9, and is composed of lamps, electric conductive pieces, brushes and switches which are already shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except for diodes 'XGO XG8 and IGO IG9.

Description will hereafter be made on the functions of the channel indicating means having the aforesaid arrangements.

For instance in some location, suppose that channels lst, 4th, 8th, 12th, 37th, 63rd and th are used for broadcasting. In this case, the following electric conductive pieces all are moved upwards in each of the two-figure pushbuttons:

a) XO I0 and X0 [0, and X0 IO in the push button 0" b) XI, and ll in the button "1 (XI) c) X3 and IS, in the button 3" (X3) d) X6 and I6 in the button 6" (X6) e) X8 and I8 in the button 8" and further the following electric conductive pieces contact brushes as follows;

a. X0 with brush XPO,

b. X0 with brush XPO,

c. X0 with brush XPO d. X1 with brush XP1 e. X3 with brush XP3 f. X6 with brush XP6 g. X8 with brush XP8 1 hen the power switch (not shown) is switched on, and lamps X80, X81, XB3, X86 and X38 light indicating that the. available broadcasting channels stay in 3 some numbers of below 10th, of 10th, of 30th, of 60th and of 80th.

Next, the button X0 is pushed inwardly a designated distance K as shown in FIG. 2. Once pushed, it is locked or held by means of a well-known locking mechanism. The contact between electric conductive pieces X0,, X0,, X0 and brushes XP0 X1 0 XP0 is broken, and at the same time, owing to the trans-movement of the pin XDO, the switch XEO is opened and the lighted lamps go out. However, due to the trans-movement of the pin XDO, the switch XFO is closed and the lamp XBO stays on. Further, the upward movement of electric conductive pieces 10,, I0 I0 due to the push of button 0 connects them respectively with brushes IP0 IP0 IP0 thereby energizing lamps [B1, 1B4, 1B8. Accordingly, when the two-figure 0 button lamp and the lamps in the 1, 4 and 8 one-figure buttons light and indicate that the last, 4th and 8th are the available broadcasting channels below the 10th.

Next, the 1 button ll of one-figure buttons is pushed inwardly a designated distance 1(" shown in FIG. 3. The switch IE is opened and the switch IF is closed due to the trans-movement of pin 1D,, and therefore the lamps 1B4, lb8 are put out, while lamp 181 remains on. Under these means, when the two-figure 0 button OX of two-figure and the 1 button ll of onefigure are pushed in, the 1st channel is selected for broadcasting by way of the suitable selecting device (not shown), and so indicated the lighting of the XBO, IBl button lamps.

In case a change of channel is desired, first the reset button R is pushed thereby closing the setting of the X0, I1 buttons by returning them to their normal position. This serves to put out lamp IBl of the one-figure 1 button I1 and to relight lamps XBO, XBl, XB3, XB6 and X88 of the two-figure buttons as was the case when power was initially switched on. Second, the twofigure 1 button X1 is pushed in, the contact between electric conductive piece X1 and brush XP1 is broken, but the electric conductive piece l1 remains in contact with brush IP1 and the trans-movement of pin XDl which opens switch XEl and closes switch XFl, does not turn the lamp XBl of the two-figure 1 button X1 nor the lamp IB2 of the one-figure 2 button I2. This indicates that the 12th channel is the only.

available one for broadcasting among numbers of the 10th. Accordingly when pushed in the one-figure 2 button 12 the 12th channel is selected without turning off the lamp.

By the repeat of the said operation, and according to the indications of lamps, it is possible to change over the channels. However, if the range (the numbers of some tens) of the available channels is known there is no need to operate the re-set button R" upon changing channels. The correct buttons can be directly pushed. In this case, it is preferable to have means which enables the recovery of, two-figure and one-figure buttons pushed in previously so as to return them to their normal position when a new two-figure button is pushed in. According to the said operational procedures, when the two-figure 0 button X0 is pushed in and the one-figure "1 button I1 is pushed in only lamps X80 and IBIA turn on. On the other hand, to determine what besides the 1st, the 4th and the 8th channels are available channels, and to indicate this by lighting the lamps, it is necessary to push the re-set button R" and then push the two-figure 0 button X0. When changing over the 1st channel to another available channels 4th and 8th one by one, it is convenient to keep lighting the lamps of the 4th and the 8th channels, even if the 1st channel is already selected for broadcasting. The same within the same figure. One example of how to perform this is: to get rid of pins IDO ID9 mounted in interlocking rods 1B0 [B9 of the onefigure buttons I0 l9 and switches IEO, IFO IE9, IF9 being controled by said pins, and when some one-figure button is pushed in it is necessary to enable the previous pushed-in button being to release and return to its normal no-set position. In this case, the selecting channel indication is made by confirming the pushed-in twofigure and one-figure buttons. However, this example might not give a good enough indication of the channel selected, because the quantity of light for the selected channel is entirely same as that for other non-selected channels and there may be some difficulty in confirming the selected channel quickly.

One solution for the above is to connect the switches IEO IE9 controlled by pins IDO ID9 to the circuit where the resistance r is inserted, without opening those switches as shown at the circled part by dotted line in the FIG. 4, and that it works to turn appropriate lamps on and off indicating the existance of other available channels. This idea is applicable to the two-figure lamps.

In the said operational procedures, to light a lamp of each two-figure button there are placed each 10 pairs of electric conductive pieces (X0 X0 (X X8 and brushes (XPO XP0 (XPS X1 8 This placing is made to effect the automatic self-composing of lamp circuits of twofigure buttons, when set-operation of electric conductive pieces (10,, I0 (I8 I8 is made to light the one-figure lamps. In principle, however, when setting numbers of electric conductive pieces and brushes of two-figure buttons, the invention works well when using only one pair at a time, and in this case, such one pair of electric conductive pieces should be set independantly or set interlocking with the setting of at least one electric conductive piece of the one-figure buttons.

As mentioned above, according to this invention, it is easy to make the selecting operation quick and accurate by using lamps indication means in the channel selection part.

We claim:

1. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners comprising:

two adjacent rows of push buttons, one of said rows corresponding to units digits from 0-9; the other of said rows corresponding to tens digits;

indication means associated with each of said buttons for indicating channel availability and selection;

interlocking rod members connected to said buttons corresponding to said tens digits buttons, said interlocking rods being movable between normal and displaced positions;

at least one first signal setting element and at least ten second signal setting elements, located on each interlocking rod, each of said first and second signal setting elements being movable between first and second positions,

wherein said indicating means associated with said tens digits buttons are energized when said first signal setting element associated therewith is in said second position and said interlocking rod member is in'its normal position and 3. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners according to claim 1 in which the said first and second signal setting elements comprise electric contacts.

4. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners according to claim 1, in which the said first and second signal setting means associated with interlocking rod members connected to said tens digits buttons are movable interconnectingly from the said first position to the said second position. 

1. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners comprising: two adjacent rows of push buttons, one of said rows corresponding to units digits from 0-9; the other of said rows corresponding to tens digits; indication means associated with each of said buttons for indicating channel availability and selection; interlocking rod members connected to said buttons corresponding to said tens digits buttons, said interlocking rods being movable between normal and displaced positions; at least one first signal setting element and at least ten second signal setting elements, located on each interlocking rod, each of said first and second signal setting elements being movable between first and second positions, wherein said indicating means associated with said tens digits buttons are energized when said first signal setting element associated therewith is in said second position and said interlocking rod member is in its normal position and wherein said indicating means associated with said units digit buttons are energized when said second signal setting elements are in said second position and said interlocking rod member is in its displaced position.
 2. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners according to claim 1 in which said buttons are plastic, and said indicating members comprise lamps within said buttons.
 3. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners according to claim 1 in which the said first and second signal setting elements comprise electric contacts.
 4. A channel indicating means for T.V. tuners according to claim 1, in which the said first and second signal setting means associated with interlocking rod members connected to said ten''s digits buttons are movable interconnectingly from the said first position to the said second position. 